Bottle closure with self-opener



Nov. 30, 1965 A. F. REBERT BOTTLE CLOSURE WITH SELF- OPENER Filed April 16, 1964 ALBERT E REBERT ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,220,589 BOTTLE CLOSURE WITH SELF-OPENER Albert F. Rebert, R.F.D. 3, Box 76, Mount Airy, Md. Filed Apr. 16, 1964, Ser. No. 360,218 3 Claims. (Cl. 215-46) This application relates to the storage and retention of various materials within containers or holders, sealed or otherwise, and to apparatus and equipment by which the dispensing of such materials from said containers or holders is simplified and facilitated.

The invention relates particularly to the storing and dispensing of fluids such as carbonated drinks or the like normally retained in sealed bottles or other containers, and to apparatus and equipment utilized in the opening of such containers to permit the dispensing of the contents therein.

Heretofore fluids such as carbonated drinks or the like normally'have been placed in sealed containers closed by metal caps with cork or other airtight inserts and the caps have been crimped or otherwise securely fastened to the head or end portion of the container so that gas within the container could not escape. In order to remove the cap it generally has been necessary to apply an opener of the fixed or portable type to pry the cap from the container. This method has been generally accepted primarily because there has not been a better Way of removing the cap. However, this method has the inherent disadvantage of requiring the opener to be available in order to remove the cap. Some efforts have been made to provide means for removing caps without the necessity of an opener but these efforts have not met with success primarily because a sufliciently tight seal could not be formed While permitting easy removal of the cap.

It is an object of the invention to provide a bottle cap capable of being formed about the head or end of a container to form a relatively strong seal and with means for easily and and quickly removing the cap to allow the contents of the container to be dispensed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bottle cap of relatively hard material having a liner of softer material and forming an airtight seal.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective of the bottle cap of the present invention;

FIG. 2, a side elevation of a bottle with the cap in position;

FIG. 3, a perspective illustrating the manner in which the cap is removable;

FIG. 4, an enlarged vertical section of the cap of the present invention;

FIG. 5, a vertical section illustrating a modified bottle cap in use; and,

FIG. 6, a bottom plan view of the cap of FIG. 5.

Briefly stated the present invention is a bottle cap which may be applied to a bottle or other container and form an airtight seal which will prevent the escape of fluid, either in liquid or gaseous form, from the container until it is desired to dispense such fluid, said bottle cap being provided with a manipulating handle or tab by which the cap may be easily removed without the necessity of using an opener. The cap is constructed of resilient material so that it can be reapplied to reseal the bottle after a portion of the contents has been removed.

With continued reference to the drawing a bottle or other container is provided having a head or open end 11 with an enlarged annulus or ring 12. The bottle 10 is adapted to contain a liquid such as carbonated or noncarbonated beverage, fruit juice, food drink, or the like.

3,220,589 Patented Nov. 30, 1965 It is contemplated that the bottle or container may retain any desired fluid and that the material of the bottle cap may be of a material between which and the contents of the container a chemical reaction will not occur.

In order to seal the contents of the bottle against the passage of fluid into or therefrom, a cap 15 is provided having an outer shell 16, an inner liner 17, and an intermediate ring or disk 18 with an integral manipulating handle or flange 19. The outer shell 16 preferably is constructed of relatively hard synthetic material of plastic or other appropriate substance. The liner 17 is constructed of relatively soft synthetic material, and the intermediate ring 18 and the handle 19 preferably are constructed of sheet metal or other strong material preferably having resilient or flexible qualities.

The outer shell 16, inner liner 17, and the intermediate ring 18 preferably are secured in fixed assembled relation with the manipulating handle 19 extending between the shell 16 and the liner 17. The shell 16 and the liner 17 are generally cup-shaped with the outer shell having a substantially flat top 29 and an annular flange 21. Likewise the liner 17 has -a substantially flat top 22 and an annular flange 23 with such flange 23 having corrugations 24. The inner periphery of the liner 17 is of a diameter equal to or slightly less than the diameter of the annular ring 12 of the bottle or container so that when the cap 15 is applied to the bottle the material of the liner will be compressed slightly and will snugly engage the head 11 of the bottle to form an airtight seal and prevent the passage of either gas or liquid into or from the bottle. Since the shell 16 is constructed of relatively hard material such shell will maintain the bottle and the cap in assembled relation until it is desired to remove the cap. If desired, the inner liner 17 may have one or more relief openings 17' to relieve stress on the material when the cap is removed.

In order to remove the cap the manipulating tab or handle 19 may be grasped by the thumb and fingers of a person and lifted from the bottle. This lifting action will cause the ring 18 to bend so that at least the side of the ring adjacent to the manipulating handle will be raised or moved. When the ring or a portion thereof is raised the seal between the inner liner 17 and the bottle 10 will be broken and air will be permitted to enter the bottle after which the cap may be easily removed by continued upward movement of the manipulating handle. As soon as the cap is removed, the resilient character of the flexible intermediate ring will cause the cap 15 to assume its original position. Subsequently, the cap may be reapplied to the bottle 10 merely by placing the cap in position and applying a downward force thereon.

With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 a modified bottle cap is provided which preferably is utilized on bottles or containers which do not contain internal gas pressure. In this modification the closure is of unitary construction and includes a cap 25 having a generally fiat top portion 26 with a downwardly extending annular flange 27. The lower portion of the flange 27 is provided with a series of spaced enlargements 28 extending inwardly of said flange and adapted to engage the lower portion of the ring 12 of the bottle to hold the cap thereon. A manipulating handle 29 is provided which forms an extension of the flange 27 so that the cap 25 may be removed easily by an outward pressure on the handle. When the cap 25 is applied the enlargements 28 which engage the lower portion of the annular ring 12 will cause the head 11 of the bottle to move into sealing relation with the lower surface of the top portion 26 so that no fluid can escape from the bottle.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that a relatively simple bottle cap is provided which may be easily applied to a bottle or other container to retain the contents in airtight relation within the bottle and with no escape of liquid or gas therefrom or thereinto. Also the bottle cap is provided with a self-contained manipulating handle by which easy removal of the cap from the bottle may be accomplished when desired.

It will be obvious to one skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not liimted by that which is illustrated in the drawing and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A bottle cap for retaining fluid within a bottle, said cap comprising a relatively 'hard shell, a relatively soft and pliable liner located in said shell, and intermediate member of spring-like composition located between said shell and said liner, and a manipulating handle attached to said member and having a portion extending to an exposed location from said shell and said liner 20 in a manner to facilitate the removal of said cap.

2. The structure of claim 1 including corrugations on the inner surface of said flanged means.

3. A press fit type closure comprising an outer shell, an inner liner, and an intermediate ring having a manipulating element extending to an exposed position where it can be operated to break the seal, the outer shell being composed of relatively hard material and the inner shell being composed of relatively soft corrugated material and the intermediate ring being composed of spring-like material, whereby When the closure is on the container in sealing relation the liner will be compressed and provide a tight seal until the manipulating element is operated to break the seal whereupon the closure may be easily removed without damage to the closure and with the closure reusable.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,254,826 9/ 1941 Mildner et al. 21546 2,726,001 12/1955 Cululi 2l5-46 2,741,388 4/1956 Rubin 21546 3,095,991 7/1963 P-aniagna 215-46 FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner. 

1. BOTTLE CAP FOR RETAINING FLUID WITHIN IN BOTTLE, SAID CAP COMPRISING A RELATIVELY HARD SHELL, A RELATIVELY SOFT AND PLIABLE LINER LOCATED IN SAID SHELL, AND INTERMEDIATE MEMBER OF SPRING-LIKE COMPOSITION LOCATED BETWEEN SAID SHELL AND SAID LINER, AND A MANIPULATING BOTTLE ATTACHED TO SAID MEMBER AND HAVING A PORTION EXTENDING TO AN EXPOSED LOCATION FROM SAID SHELL AND SAID LINER IN A MANNER TO FACILITATE THE REMOVAL OF SAID CAP. 